The South Jersey Barons Youth Academy’s U15 Boys Barons and U15 Girls Banshees have qualified for the Super-Y League (SYL) North American Finals to be held in Tampa, Florida from November 17-21 2006. The tournament will draw the Super-Y League’s best boys and girls teams in five age groups (U13, U14, U15, U16, and U17).

The tournament will draw 140 teams from the pinnacle of elite youth soccer in North America, and feature the top boys and girls from every region in the United States and Canada. The event is sanctioned as a National Olympic Development Program (ODP) of the United States Soccer Federation for identifying players for U.S. National Teams. Fox Sports World will provide television coverage of the event.

“For our club to have two representatives in the finals this year is fantastic. Both the boys and girls in this particular age group have some very exciting players who will have a bright future in their soccer career,” said Barons Technical Director and U15 Girls coach Scott Middlemass. “For our club as a whole it is a great incentive for all our other young and upcoming players along with our older groups to strive for higher goals.”

The U15 Boys team started with the Barons at 11 years old. They are not strangers to the North American Finals. The team competed as U13’s in the 2004 finals where they finished with 2-2 record. They return in 2006 with a stronger team including eight ODP SYL/State players, two National ODP Players, and one player who is a member of the US MNT Residency Program at the IMG Academy in Bradenton Florida. The team finished with a 10-5-0 record.

“I’m very excited that we were able to qualify for the 2006 SYL finals. With ten wins in the deepest division of the SYL, the boys are deserving of this chance to compete against the top teams from the other division,” said Coach Byron Carmichael. “We will have three big obstacles in the opening round of the tournament. The boys will have to play their best soccer against the defending National Champions De Anza SC, the 2004 National Champions Vancouver Whitecaps, and a very good Midwest team, Mequon United, just to survive the opening round. However, with the competition the boys faced in the Mid Atlantic division this year, they should be mentally and physically ready to take on the challenge that awaits them.”

The U15 Girls team has taken a different path to the National Finals than the boy’s team. The team formed in early 2005 with a group of 5 existing Banshee players who were playing up a year along with 13 very talented players from different areas within Southern New Jersey. This newly formed team was a US Club Soccer Region B finalist, undefeated in spring league play, semifinalist in New Jersey National State Cup, and finished the SYL Mid Atlantic division with a record of 7-3-1 with a stingy defense giving up only 9 goals while the offense scored 31 goals. The team grew stronger as the season progressed evidenced by the tie with MatchFit Academy, who themselves were the 2005 SYL National Finals Champion. The team has three SYL National pool players, three alternate National pool players and three NJYSA team pool players.

“I am very proud of what the girls have worked for and achieved in this their first year together as a SYL team,” added Middlemass. “Going to Final’s in Tampa is a great way to end the soccer year for them and a fantastic reward for all their hard work.”

Both Teams are looking forward to very challenging SYL Finals and are proud to represent the South Jersey Barons at this event.

The Finals will be held as part of the 2006 United Soccer League (USL) Soccer Fest. The USL Soccer Fest is comprised of the USL Annual General Meeting in addition to the SYL North American Finals.USL announces 2006 inductees for the USL Hall of Fame.The ceremony will be held at the USL Annual General Meeting at the SoccerFest.

U-15 Boys Barons (Coach: Byron Carmichael) U-15 Girls Banshees (Coach: Scott Middlemass)Kameron Teel Glouster Catholic High School Ty Abilla Absegami High SchoolJames Eubank Haddon Twp. High School Devan Brewin Absegami High SchoolRobert Nowlan Hammonton High School Caitlin Fox Bishop Eustace Prep Kevin Davis Highland High School Sarah Doyle Cherokee High SchoolAlex Weidman Mainland High School Jessica Faford Cherry Hill East High Max Mittelman Mainland High School Laura Sharp Cherry Hill West High Austin Johnson Middle Twp. High School Lindsay Garbowski Eastern High SchoolCaleb Garza Ocean City High School Katelyn McFadden Holy Spirit High SchoolCory Hennessey Ocean City High School Nicole Kuhar Holy Spirit High SchoolGiancarlo Granese Ocean City High School Rachel Carlson Oakcrest High SchoolKevin Curran Ocean City High School Maria Grady Our Lady of Mercy High Andrew D’Ottavi Ocean City High School Farrell Pomponio Pinelands High SchoolChris Broomhead Palmyra High School Jessica Talarico Pinelands High School Wesley Richards Rancocas Valley High School Christine Brown Rancocas Valley High Blake Fink Rancocas Valley High School Dayna Rowe Schalik High School Ryan Finley Rancocas Valley High School Katie Harris Seneca High SchoolGlenroy Chapman St Augustine Prep Alyssa Kelly Seneca High SchoolJake McPaul St Augustine Prep Carla Massaro Shawnee High SchoolMathew Schoifet Shawnee High School Michael Bryan Shawnee High School Nicolas Tierno Timber Creek High SchoolKyle Shaw Washington Twp. High SchoolMcKenzey Scott Wildwood Catholic High School